Jar closure



April 15, 1930. w. E. ROWN 1,754,542

JAR CLOSURE Filed Jan. 23, 19,28

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Patented Apr. 15, 193

Parent ori-ICE i WILLrAM BROWN, or Los ANGELns, CALIFORNIA JAR CLOSURE Appneation ined January 23, 1928. seriai Ne. 248,657.

This invention relates to closures for jars and the like, and has for its obj eet to provide means for retaining a cover on a vessel with the retaining means readily removable without'the use of specialtools but positively secured in place against the possibility of ac cidental displacement.

vllt 1s a turther object of the invention to provide a retaining means which exerts aV 1o spring tension against the cover for lirmly seating it on the vessel, the construction however providing foi-readily causing yielding rof the spring tension as the retaining means is moved to operative position in order to perla mit convenient assembly of `the parts.`

It is a still further object of the invention `to provide a construction whereby the retaining means does not project above the upper surface of the ar closure when in operative position, and thereby permits the jar closures to be formed with flat top surfaces allowing for convenient stacking of the jars.

It is a still 'further object of the invention to provide a sealing waiter or label for the top 5135 ot' the jar closure, and adapted to overlie the retaining means so as to prevent removal thereof without breaking the seal.

Further objects of the invention will be readily understood from the following de- Si) scription of the accompanying drawings, in which:

Fig. l is a side elevation of the invention, partly in axial section1 with one of the retaining clips shown in. operative position, and a sealing wafer being shown as ready to be sealed over the top of' the jar.

Fig. 2 is a plan view of the invention with the sealing wafer partly broken away.

Fig. 3 is a perspective view ot oneot the 44 retaining clips.

The invention is illustrated as embodied in a usual jar structure comprising the jar 1 having the vertical lip 2 and a projecting flange 3, with a top 4 adapted to seat over the lip 2 and having a depending flange 5 cooperating with the flange 3. A usual washer 6 is provided between the flanges 3 and 5.

The means for fixing the cover npthe jar is shown as comprising spring clips adapted to hook beneath flange 3 and over the top 4,

and these clips when in operative position compress the washer 6 so as to herinetically seal the jar, and are positively held against accidental displacement with the upper surlaces of the clips flush with or below the upn per surface of top 4, so that by making the jar tops with flat upper surfaces as shown in Fig. 1 the jars may be readily stacked.

ils an instance ot this arrangement each of f the retaining clips is shown as a metal strip having a vertical back 8 which is angularly bent at its lower end so as to form a projecting arm 9, and which at its upper end is bent sc as to form a spring arm 1() `normally projecting at an acute angle from the bac-k as shown in Fig. 3. The forward end of arm 10 is provided with a depending lip 11.

The retaining clips preferably engage the jar at diametrically opposite points, the arms 9 hooking beneath flange 3, and the lips l1 seating in notches 14 in the jar top as shown at the right ot Fig. 1. rlhe notches 14 are formed in suitable depressions which are provided in the upper surface of top 4, the said depressions extending inwardly rom the outer periphery of the top, and being of a width to receive the arms `10, with the bases of said l depressions forming cam surfaces 13 inclined upwardly and inwardly from the outer periphery or' top 4 and terminating in the notches 14 ,from whence the bases of the depressions are inclined upwardly to meet the Hat upper surface oftop 4 asshown at 15;`

The parts are so .proportioned that with arms 9 engaged beneath 'flange 3 the lips 11 will seat on the outer ends of cam surfaces 13, and by pushing inwardly on the retaining clips the lips 11 will thus ride upwardly along the cam surfaces 13 so as to bend the spring arms 10 upwardly from their `normal position. The resulting spring tension of the arms will thus compress the washer` o" so as to torni a tight'seat for` the. ar closure. lWhen the retaining clips have been pushed inwardly untilth'eir backs 8 abut against the 'peripheries of flanges 3-5, the lips 11 seat in notches 14 and are heldthere'inby the spring tension of theclips;V l. X The depressions in which the cam surfacesA andlnotches are formed are so arranged that when the clips are in place their upper surfaces are either flush with or below the upper surface of top 4, and as a consequence there are no projecting parts of the retaining 5 clips which might be accidentally engaged for displacing the clips, and the clips are further held against-accidental displacement by their transverse abutment against the side walls of the depressions in which they rest.

Mounting the retainin clips so that there is no projection thereof a ove the upper surface of top 4, allows the top to present a flat surface adapting the jars to be readily stacked one upon another, and by thus providing flat upper surfaces for the jar tops when the retaining clips are in place, a usual sealing wafer or labelQ() may be pasted over the top of the jar and over the retaining clips, so that in order to remove the clips and open the jar the seal must first be broken.

I have thus provided an extremely simple but practical closure means for a or the like, which permits the retaining clips to be readily moved to operative position and .'5 progressively increases the spring tension of the clips for tightening the jar closure, and finally seats and holds the spring clips in operative position without projection thereof above the upper surface of the jar top. The

31|` jar closure is thus adapted to be sealed by pasting a label on the top of the ar so as to overlie the retaining'clips,l and due to the non-projection of the retaining clips the jar tops may be constructed so as to present flat upper surfaces permitting convenient stackin of the jars.

o open the closure means it is only necessary to break thesealing wafer which overlies the retaining clips and pry the arms l() 4d ''upwardly so that lips 11 disengage notches 14.

The retaining clips may then be readily withdrawn and may be replaced whenever it is desitedV to again secure the top on the ar.

I claim:

1. A vessel having an undercut shoulder, closure means for the vessel having an upper surface flat throughout its entire area except for circumferentially spaced radially extending depressions therein at its outer periphery, 56 'the side walls of said depressions eing substantially perpendicular to the flat upper surface of the closure means, the bases of said depressions forming inwardly and upwardly sloping cam surfaces terminating in downwardly extending notches, and retaining clips adapted for engagement beneath said undercutshoulder' and havin minatingin depending lips, the said spring arms being adaptedfor reception in said de- 60 pressions so that the depending lips ride along the camsurfaces and finally-engage in said notches for fixing the clips intensioned posi- 1 tion tightly seating the closure means on the vesselJ-f spring arms terf 2. A veseelfhavin'g an undercutshoulder,H

closure means for the vessel having an upper surface flat throughout its entire area except for circumferentially spaced radially extending depressions therein at its outer periphery,

the side walls of said depressions being substantially perpendicular to the fiat upper surface of the closure means, the bases of said depressions forming inwardly and upwardly sloping cam surfaces terminating in downwardly extending notches, retaining clips adapted for engagement beneath said under'- cut shoulder and having spring arms terminating in depending lips, the said spring arms being adapted for reception in said depressions so that the depending lips ride along the cam surfaces and finally engage in said notches for fixing the clips in tensioned position held against transverse displacement by the side walls ofthe depressions and tightly seating the closure means on the vessel, the parts being arranged for non-projection of the retaining clips above the upper flat surface of the closure means when the clips are in operative position in the depressions, and a sealing wafer adapted to be fixed to the upper fiat surface of the closure means so as to overlie the retaining clips when the latter are in operative position.

In testimony whereof he has affixed his signature to this specification.

WILLIAM E. BROVN. 

